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Politician's sister threatens and assaults journalist

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(IPYS/IFEX) - On 12 November 2011, Miguel Meza Nieto, the political editor for the "Sol de los Andes" newspaper, was insulted, threatened and struck by the sister of Raúl Barreto Topalaya, the regional coordinator in Junín for the Peruvian Nationalist Party. His sister's actions were in retaliation for a series of reports published by the journalist about the politician. The incident took place in the city of Huancayo, in the central Peruvian region of Junín.

Gino Márquez, the deputy editor of the newspaper, which is distributed in three Andean regions, told IPYS that Flor Barreto followed Meza from the newspaper's offices to a bank. Once there, she insulted and slapped him, and warned him to stop writing about her brother.

Since 5 November, Meza has been publishing reports about the political coordinator's past. He has presented documentation showing that the politician has been accused of sexual abuse and attempted murder, and has even served time in prison.

The journalist, whose articles include Barreto's legal statements refuting the accusations, has requested protection from the Junín authorities.

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